Page 135 - Dictionary of Heraldry and Related Subjects

series of Calendurs for Staie Papers Commander-in-Chief's Memoranda
during the Inkrregnum will prob- (W.0.31), Certificates VOS & OS
ably be found to be the best starting (W.0.42) from about the same the.
point. Unpublished material of im- The principal records of officers'
portance is among the Common- are:
wealtb Exchequer Papers (S.P.28).
After the Restoration of the
Records of Oficers' Services.
(1660)
Monarchy
sources
the
became far more abundant. They
Systematic records of Officers'
Services were introduced only in
are most convenjently approached
1829. Similar records were com-
in the first instance through the four
main Lists of War Office Records.
piled at intervals throughout the
nineteenth century, They are
These are the printed Lists and
arranged by regiments. Some regi-
Indexes LI11 and XXVIII, and the
two typescript War Ofice Supple-
ment's records have not been
transferred to the Public Record
mentary fists. The classes listed
Office and are feared lost. These
here cover a wide range of subjects,
records are most useful and the
including military operations and
administration, finance, supplies,
main series are:
courtsmartial etc. Some of these are
(i) Returns of Officers' Services
not normally of much use for bio-
(Military Service only 1808-
1810) Registers Class W.0.25.
graphicaI purposes; but almost any
of them may sometimes supply
These contain no personal
details.
vaIuabIe details. Lists and Indexes
(ii) Services of Officers returned
LI11 is an Alphabetical Guide and
on Full and Half-Pay, com-
includes a list of the numbers and
piled in 2828, Registers Class
narnes of regiments. There are also
W.0.25. These give age on
card indexes to various classes.
Records from the War Office
being commissioned, dates of
marriage and birtlis of child-
selected for preservation, in corn-
ren.
mon with records from other
Government Departments, are in
general open to public inspection
Active List, 1829-1919, Regis-
ters Classes W.0.25 and
when they are 30 years old, though
certain records. such as Embarka-
W.0.76. Tbese include date
tion Returns, are available ader 5
and place of birth, particulars
of marriage and childreo.
years. There are gaps in most series
The date of an officer's death, iE it
due to loss or destruction; but (iii) Services of Officers on the
defects in one series can often be cannot be ascertained £rom any
made good by the aid of another. other source. can usually be found
in the Paymaster General's Records
RECORDS OF OFFICERS. The ser- of Full and Haif-Pay (P.M.G. 3 &
vice records of Commissioned 4).
Officers of the British Amy can be RECORDS OF OTHER RA~s.
traced with approximate complete- Records of Soldiers are arranged
ness from the year 1660. Family for the most part, by regiments. so
details and birth-places of officers that it is almost essential to know
were seldom recorded until the end the name of their regiment in which
of the 18th century. Occasionally a soldier served in order to trace his
they can be round in the appii- record. If it is known where he was
cations for Con~missions among serving on a given date. it may be
124